UK needs quarter of a million extra construction workers by 2028

More than a quarter of a million extra construction workers are needed in the UK over the next five years to meet demand.

The latest annual Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) construction skills network (CSN) report lays bare the persistent gap between what the UK needs and the workforce available.

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It showed that the UK's construction output rose by 2% last year and will grow by 2.4% a year on average between now and 2028, with construction employment reaching 2.75 million by 2028.

To meet the growth, the equivalent of more than 251,500 extra construction workers, including for private housing and infrastructure, would be needed.

"The UK construction industry will continue to grow, but needs more people in the workforce with the right skills," said Tim Balcon, CITB chief executive.

"There has always been a demand for workers, and CITB’s CSN report drives home how many are leaving the sector compared to those joining, and the opportunities for employers to address this challenge by recruiting and developing a skilled, competent, and diverse workforce that is able to meet current and future needs.

"The ‘people pipeline’ is critical to sector growth, but other improvements are also important, including productivity and technological innovation, he added.

Although the construction industry welcomed 200,000 new workers in 2023, it saw the loss of 210,000 workers, and for almost a third of construction employers, finding suitably skilled staff remained a key challenge, particularly with older workers retiring and not being replaced.

CITB has committed to invest £267 million to help the industry improve diversity, quality and productivity as well as making construction a more attractive career choice for future generations.

Balcon added: "The past few years have posed many challenges for the industry and as a sector we have shown significant resilience.

"2024 and beyond hosts a more positive outlook and through a joined-up approach to recruit, train, develop and upskill talent, CITB will continue to play a crucial role in supporting an industry that is a key driver of the UK economy."

CITB's investment will directly support three expanded initiatives for employers, including New Entrant Support Team (NEST) - to help employers better navigate the recruitment process, access grants and suitable training, and an Industry Impact Fund -to make direct funding available for employers to design and test new solutions for talent recruitment.

There will also be an Employer Network to be rolled out across Great Britain, to enable local employers to set their own funding priorities and meet area-specific skills needs.

To read the full report, please click HERE.